How to Make a Rustic Wreath for Your Front Door

A rustic wreath is a perfect accent for your holiday decorations both inside and out. Take a look at this super easy DIY wreath you’ll love to show off!

This year, I wanted to make a rustic wreath for our front door. Making wreaths for Christmas is one of my favorite DIY projects. They can get EXPENSIVE though! So I watched for discounts on the sprigs and then, as I was playing around with my ribbon, an idea sparked!

Out the corner of my eye, I saw the drop cloth I’d been using for another project (a leather tote bag) tutorial. There was A LOT of drop cloth material left and it’s perfect for a rustic wreath!

The steps I took are all below!

Oh, and just in case you caught it, this is the wreath I did a Facebook LIVE for the group Christmas Decorating and DIYs. It’s a great Facebook Group that you definitely should join if you LOVE Christmas, like ME!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Rustic wreath supplies

Since the foundation of this rustic wreath is so neutral, you can mix and match any greenery or ribbon that matches your decor and makes your heart sing. I’m totally into lambs ear and I LOVE LOVE LOVE red at Christmas time, so here are what I used:

• Artificial Flocked Lambs Ear Spray
• FloraCraft Square Wire Wreath Form 16″
• 6 Ft x 9 Ft Medium Duty Canvas Drop Cloth
• Red Iced Berry Spray Pick from Ashland

The only tools I needed were scissors and wire cutters. How easy is this project!? Right!

Btw, I used a relatively economical Lambs Ear Sprays for the wreath. I have used better quality (and more expensive) flocked lambs ear for other projects. It just depends on what I’m making. Here’s one that is a bit nicer if you want to go for the expense:

Preparing the materials

This is really a basic project, so not a lot of preparation is needed!

Getting the drop cloth all pretty (pretty rustic, lol)

As I mentioned above, I’m also using the drop cloth for a leather tote bag tutorial so I had already washed and steamed the drop cloth. Honestly, I don’t think I would bother for a wreath project as shrinking isn’t really a big deal, is it?

If you do want to wash it to soften the material a bit, here is one suggestion. Don’t dry it! After doing some online research, I took mine straight out of the washing machine to my bedroom. I put the whole thing stretched out on my king size bed and used my hand steamer to get the wrinkles out.

I did try to do it with an iron first, as an experiment. Yet, as warned from a few online resources, it doesn’t work. They were right. The hand steamer, however, worked like a charm.

If you don’t have a hand steamer, GET ONE! I only got one a few months ago and am so happy I did!

Tearing the raw edge strips

If you have any kids around, I can only imagine that they would enjoy helping with tearing the drop cloth into strips.

First, you need to remove the binding from the sides of the drop cloth.

One of the beautiful parts about working with this material is that you can just RIP it! Make a small 1″ cut at the top of where you want it to rip, then pull apart with force. There will be threads hanging (have a garbage can nearby) but it’s so easy and a little satisfying too!

Once you have the sewn edges removed. Then you can just cut little 1″ snips at the top edge and start ripping away. I made mine approximately 1 1/2″ to 2″ wide.

Once you’ve ripped the long strips, fold them over to cut into smaller pieces. I made mine about 9″ long. Cut a few and play with them to see what look you prefer.

In total, you’ll need approximately 170 strips, give or take.

Prepare the greenery

This is too easy. I actually feel a little silly writing this down for you, but it IS this simple.

Remove the price tags, separate the leaves, and set aside.

For the lamb’s ear, you will need to snip off the end with the wire cutters. I made my cuts approximately 2″ down from the last leaf juncture.

Cut the ribbon for hanging

If you want to attach a ribbon for hanging from a hook, you can have that on hand too. You can also add a bow or ribbon pom-pom too.

Personally, I like to wait until the wreath is finished so I can see what it looks like BUT some people feel it’s a MUCH better idea to attach the ribbon for hanging right away. Your call!

Let’s get this rustic wreath made!

OUter and inner wire rings

Get your pile of drop cloth strips and pull of any straggling strings.

You’re going to tie the strips all the way around the outer-most and inner-most wire rings. Don’t tie any on the center wire.

My preference is to fold the strip in half, put under the wire, and (going over the wire) pull the two ends into the fold. Then tighten them up by pulling first on both ends and then one-at-a-time.

I found that 7 strips work for the side sections and a few more a needed as you go around the corner sections.

Continue this all the way around both wire loops. The ends are brought toward the front of the wreath.

Just a funny random comment …
My daughter asked me what I was making.
I said, “A wreath for the front door.”
She said, “That’s not a wreath, it’s square!”
Haha, I guess to some people (including Stella) wreaths are only round!

Attaching the springs and sprays

Note: The following photos don't have the side strips attached to the wreath form. This is solely so you can see what's happening easier in the photos. When you're actually making it, there will be strips tied on the outer and inner wire too!

Layer One

Lay one spray of lambs ear on top of the middle wire and lay one drop cloth strip over it. Find a spot between leaves about halfway in the middle.

Flip it over and tie it from the back in a simple over-under manner. Don’t fold it in half as you did for the outer and inner rings. This is so the ends can each go in the opposite direction.

Flip it back over and tighten the knot (it’s not really a knot though, is it?).

Repeat this one more time working down the stem.

Layer 2

Lay the next sprig, in my wreath I’m alternating lambs ear and red ice berries, so the top is halfway down the first layer.

Add a drop cloth strip over just where the branches end and secure with a knot on the back-side just like you did for the first layer.

Repeat one more time.

As you work through all of your greenery, you’ll have to eyeball where to make the ties. The stems aren’t all the same and some are stuck together. Be patient and have wine or a cocktail if needed, lol.

Layers 3 and Beyond

Continue this all the way around the wire wreath form. You’re creating both a rustic wreath and a pretty wreath all at once. Yay! Winner-winner!

Look at how fabulous it looks when you’re finished!

You can add a bow or fairy lights. My daughter, Stella, and I decided we like it just like it is. Both a rustic wreath and a pretty wreath!

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Options for the time starved rustic wreath lover

So you LOVE this idea but simply don’t have the time to make it? I mean, this is a super EASY project, but creating the rustic wreath look with the drop cloth strips does take some time and patience. That might be tough during the holiday season.

I picked out some wreaths that you might like. Of course, none are like our very original rustic wreath but they’re still very pretty!

Thanks so much for visiting this tutorial. The best praise you can give is to comment below and to share this post on Pinterest! Here’s a PIN all-ready for you! Look, it’s my front door!

Do you love holiday projects?

I love holiday projects so much! In fact, I start looking for inspiration and supplies in August! Crazy right! You should have seen the cashier’s face at Michael’s when I asked if she knew when their pre-season Christmas sale would be starting. Haha. I guess I was a little too pre-season.

If you enjoyed this project, here are some others you might want to try:

• How to Make a Farmhouse Wreath that Sparkles!
• How to Make a Simple Christmas Table Set
• How to Make a Winter Gnome
• How to Use Scandinavian Decor as Holiday Table Inspiration
• How to Make Your Friendsgiving PIN Perfect

There’s always more to come too, so be sure to sign up to get our emails.

Oh, and if you LOVE creating with others, consider joining our Facebook group, The Great Create Challenge!